Saturday, January 10, 2009

PKR Launch New Updates To Their Online Poker Room - 9th January 2009

As if the state-of-the-art software and graphics weren’t impressive enough, PKR have decided to one-up the competition yet again by including over 50 new updates and changes to their online poker room.

“Version 1.7” is the site’s biggest-ever update and players are already enjoying the changes. New environments and table settings are top of the list, including a China-themed casino; an Egyptian theme and an underground wine bar.

The games are now even more realistic than before. Tournaments will now end with a triumphant celebration of the winning player and PKR’s software gurus have added top-of-the-range physics modelling that means the players’ hair moves realistically at the slightest motion.

Of course, they’ve improved the actual poker, too. Re-buy tournaments will cater to all the Negreanus out there and PKR’s MTTs are being given bigger and better prizes.

PKR COO Leon Walters said, “This is our biggest update yet and our development team are really proud and excited about what we’ve been able to accomplish – we think the improvements and enhancements to the game are going to be a massive hit.”

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PokerStars Caribbean Adventure Sets Attendance Records, by Dan Cypra - Poker News Daily - 8th January 2009

In 2004, there were 221 entrants into the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure (PCA). At the time, the World Poker Tour sanctioned event was held on the Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines Voyager of the Seas. In fact, its final table played out above the ship’s ice rink. In 2009, a whopping 1,347 runners hit the felts in The Bahamas, creating the largest live poker tournament held outside of Las Vegas, according to a PokerStars press release distributed on Thursday.

Of the 1,347 entrants, 1,061 were members of the world’s largest online poker room. In addition, 735 (or 55% of the field) qualified through one of the many satellites that PokerStars ran prior to the first cards being dealt. The $10,000 buy-in PCA Main Event has a total prize pool of $12.6 million and will award a healthy $3 million to its winner on Saturday. The tournament regularly attracts a wealth of online poker players due to the extensive qualifiers held on PokerStars. However, its status as a European Poker Tour event has also brought out some of the “big guns,” including Mark Seif, Kathy Liebert, Tom Franklin, “Miami” John Cernuto, Nenad Medic, and Cliff “JohnnyBax” Josephy, all of whom have survived to see Day 3 on Thursday.

By 2005, the PCA had grown to 461 players and found new digs at the Atlantis Hotel on Paradise Island in The Bahamas. One of the world’s most famous vacation destinations, the Atlantis’ famed Bridge Suite attracts celebrities from the four corners of the Earth. In 2006, the PCA field ballooned to 724 players and was won by Steven Paul Ambrose. The next year, the field nearly topped 1,000. Winning it was Ryan “Daut44” Daut, who took down the title on a cold blustery day in The Bahamas. Daut’s win marked the last time a PCA winner would also be a World Poker Tour champion, as the passage of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) in the United States essentially stunted its promotion of live tournaments sponsored by online poker rooms.

Last year’s PCA marked the first time the European Poker Tour stopped in the Western Hemisphere for an event. There were 1,136 combatants and, at the end of the day, Team PokerStars Pro member Bertrand “ElkY” Grospellier took home $2 million for the win. The final table also featured Hafiz Khan and David “The Dragon” Pham. The PCA has displayed consistent growth over time and now owns the record for the largest poker tournament held outside of Sin City.

To put its 1,347 player attendance figure in perspective, the Main Event of the 2008 World Series of Poker Europe festivities drew 363. The European Poker Tour’s recent London stop drew 596 players. Halfway across the world in Macau, 538 players packed the Asia Pacific Poker Tour event there in September.

This year, the top 199 players in the PCA will finish in the money, with its winner becoming $3 million richer. Other places will pay out as follows:

1st Place: $3,000,000
2nd Place: $1,700,000
3rd Place: $1,100,000
4th Place: $750,000
5th Place: $550,000
6th Place: $400,000
7th Place: $300,000
8th Place: $234,000
9th Place: $175,000
10th Place: $150,000

At the time of writing, there are 102 players remaining as the PCA enters Day 3 on Thursday. David “Bakes” Baker continues to lead the pack with 925,000 chips. Other notable stacks in the Atlantis Hotel include:

11. Mark Seif, 505,000
12. Eric Liu, 472,000
19. Kathy Liebert, 401,500
27. Hafiz Khan, 320,500
28. Rep Porter, 317,500
31. “Captain” Tom Franklin, 308,500
38. “Miami” John Cernuto, 286,500
55. Vicky Coren, 200,000
62. Kevin “BeL0WaB0Ve” Saul, 187,500
63. Grant Hinkle, 186,000
64. Nenad Medic, 184,500
67. Ylon Schwartz, 178,000
88. Cliff “JohnnyBax” Josephy, 106,000
89. Jeff Madsen, 106,000 (Credit: Poker News Daily)

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Shuffle up and deal, by Brendan Cormick - The Australian - 9th January 2009

Come and sit down. Never played Texas hold'em poker before? It's the Cadillac of poker, according to the Americans. It'll take you a minute to learn and, maybe, a lifetime to master.

Let's play. You can learn as we go. Those are your starting chips. Not worth a red cent anywhere else, but they're worth $2000 at these tables. The green ones are $25, black are valued at $100, the purple chips are $500. Collect the yellow ones, they're worth $1000.

Don't be put off by the language. It's not blue, though poker has a jargon that conjures up all sorts of images. I mean last week that guy over there flopped the nuts and splashed the pot, which nobody likes. I was under the gun, but I had a backdoor flush opportunity and went all-in behind him. It is no different from other sports such as surfing in that regard, though it could be argued there is more intellect involved in poker.

Loosely translated: that guy over there got the best hand when the first three community cards (the flop) were revealed and he threw his chips into the centre among the chips already bet in the pot. I had a chance to make a flush (five cards of the one suit) and put all my chips in danger by going all-in.

POKER has taken hundreds of years to evolve and become an overnight sensation. The phenomenon known as Texas hold'em has become a favourite over the past decade. Made-for-television tournaments, where concealed cameras reveal each player's cards to the viewer, have elevated the game to a spectator sport.

The game received another boost when an unknown, Chris Moneymaker, won the World Series of Poker in 2003, ending the professional domination and motivating thousands to try and emulate his feat.

Casinos conduct the bulk of cash games and tournaments, but as a means of providing a new entertainment option for clubs and pubs, free poker leagues have developed since 2005. They were seen initially as a fad but are now a thriving business.

EMMA'S going to deal. She's 18 and works at a supermarket checkout. She'd never played before the start of last year. In fact a game of snap was the closest she'd come to a card deck, but she came along one night with her girlfriends and now she plays often.

Brian is 48 and an electrician by trade. The father of three loves playing cards and, though his wife would like him home every night, Tuesday night is his to shuffle up and deal.

Maria is 35 and about to manage an RSL in country Victoria. She has always enjoyed card games, though Texas hold'em was new to her when she started playing free tournaments. Her husband Darren, 37, also plays. It is true when they say the family that plays together stays together.

Justin is a 25-year-old shop assistant who came with his mates and has made several new friends. He admits to being average when he started playing, though he is now a solid player, a formidable opponent. He is sitting next to Mick, a 48-year-old businessman who likes to have a few ales and some friendly banter while putting his chips at risk. The deeper into the tournament he goes, the greater the risks he takes.

Con is 31 and works overnight as a cook. He plays most days before work at several different venues and has been exposed to cards from a young age. He has been playing for three years and says he is still learning.

THE Australian Poker League runs 4000 free poker games a month with anywhere up to 200 games on a given day of the week nationally. The National Poker League holds 2000 events each month. Between them, they cater to more than 500,000 players.

An APL venue in Melbourne will draw between 60 and 80 players to a game in a club or hotel, comparing favourably with patronage in Brisbane. In Sydney, numbers can swell to 200-300.

"In Sydney it is very much a club culture and they have bigger memberships and the facilities to hold the bigger numbers. You find in Melbourne that the RSL and golf and other sporting clubs are smaller," APL's Peter Kavanagh says.

The demographics signify the universal nature of the card game. If you want to see how multicultural Australia is, venturing into a poker tournament provides a great window. Rivalling the variation in origins of the players is their age. Teenagers to pensioners are represented and they range from the unemployed to invalids, white collar workers and blue collar workers.

"It can vary from game to game. You'll see the 18-year-old and you'll see the 75 or 80-year-old and everything in between," Kavanagh says.

"Looking at them again, you'll see different ethnic origins as well as professional backgrounds and non-professional backgrounds.

"It's a game for all parts of the community. It's not like a football game, when you've hit 30 you're gone. It's the pastime that people can take up when they're fresh out of school or well past pension age."

YOU get two cards dealt to you. A pair of aces is the best, but a pair of kings is good. Brian raises to $200 and Maria folds. Justin tosses his cards into the muck. That is what you call the pile of discards.

Mick takes a risk and calls by putting out $200. Con is playing tight (only when he has good cards) and folds his hand. I'm out, so it's up to you. Call for $200 or raise. Call. Let's see the flop: the first three community cards that are revealed simultaneously.

POKER leagues have detailed websites that promote their venues, but most games are advertised in local newspapers.

Word of mouth, however, is the best means of drawing new players, according to APL franchisee Cliff Ferrer, who is a district manager in the southeast suburbs of Melbourne, but he adds that the poker boom on TV has played a huge part in creating interest.

"I would say word of mouth is a huge thing for this kind of business," Ferrer says. "It is very important for people to come and have a good time, because what then happens is they tell their friends the next day. The poker industry, whether it be pub poker, online or in the casinos, is just booming due to the fact that it is being televised.

"People get to see the cards of the players and understand what's going on. The game has become more accessible and no longer has the stigma of being played in back rooms by men smoking cigars. It has been opened up to a wider demographic, still 70 per cent male but with a significant increase in female participation.

"I've seen a lot of things change with poker over time. I've seen people come as groups and meet others to become the best of friends and they now see each other away from APL events. I have even seen love blossom at the poker table. I know a couple that met at one of our games and they got married."

This pair, let's call them King and Queen, are yet to have a child, though Ace or Jack would be obvious choices for names.

THE flop is ace of spades, seven of diamonds and the nine of diamonds. Brian's the aggressor and bets $200 again. Mick thinks long and hard before tossing away his cards. It's up to you. What's that, you're raising to $500? Are you sure you've never played? Brian hesitates before putting in the extra $300 to call.

KAVANAGH says free poker provides the potential for a life-changing experience. APL held its first $1 million Tournament of Champions 18 months ago at Sydney's Luna Park, at which time then 31-year-old unemployed father of one, Rodney Davidson, had $250 to his name.

Davidson, from Bega on the NSW south coast, slept in his car for three nights but played shrewd poker and made it to the final table, vowing to get out of debt and buy a house if he won. A set of fours (three of a kind) gave him the tournament and the $300,000 winner's cheque, not to mention celebrity among the hundreds of thousands of players who aspire to be a poker champion.

The pubs and clubs are proving a breeding ground for tomorrow's cash tournament stars, though for each one that emerges there are dozens that lack the bravado, the confidence or the bankroll to pit themselves against the pros.

In February at Melbourne's Crown Casino, less than a month after the world's leading exponents of Texas hold'em have descended on the venue to battle it out in the tournaments that culminate in the main event at the Aussie Millions - the richest poker prize outside the US - a non-professional poker player will win $250,000 in the APL's Wild Turkey Poker Classic.

Four players will win a seat at the World Series of Poker in Las Vegas next July, valued at more than $US10,000 ($14,700), and get a shot at about $US10 million.

THE fourth community card is called the turn. Emma peels the 10 of hearts off the deck. Brian checks (elects not to bet) and so do you. If one of you were to hold a six and a nine or a nine and a jack, you'd have made a straight. You get to see the final card for free, having checked. Known as the river, the fifth card revealed is the ace of clubs.

Brian checks. He was trying to make a flush with the two diamonds in his hand and the two diamonds among the community cards. He fell one diamond short.

You're all-in and push your remaining $1300 in chips out toward the centre of the table. Brian folds, the chips are yours to rake back and stack. Well done, you obviously had an ace. What's that you say with a sheepish grin, a stone cold bluff?

Are you sure you haven't played before? (Credit: The Australian)

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Friday, January 09, 2009

Is The EPT Surpassing The WPT?, by Earl Burton - Poker News Daily - 8th January 2009

When it began just over six years ago, the World Poker Tour was the only game in town. Sure, the World Series of Poker was showing its usual mild growth, but it was a tournament schedule that didn’t have any draw other than its traditional April-to-May run. There wasn’t a great deal of poker action at the time and casinos were closing poker rooms across the United States in favor of the more lucrative banks of slot machines that didn’t have to have human operation to bring in the money.

The World Poker Tour changed many of the facets of poker, making it the “hip” thing to do as the first decade of the 21st century rumbled along. The WPT’s tournaments, broadcast on the cable network The Travel Channel, suddenly became highly popular as the game’s television ratings soared and players, professional and amateur, suddenly flocked to take part in the events. With this outpouring of players and, more importantly, the money that went along with it, other organizations began to put together their own tours to compete against the WPT.

In 2004, PokerStars decided to attack the untapped market that was Europe with their own tour, the European Poker Tour. Starting with a minuscule seven tournaments, the EPT found a foothold in the European arena and has since seen incredible growth as they continue their fifth season. While there have been other tours that have also started during this same time frame (the WSOP Circuit events, WSOP Europe, the Heartland Poker Tour, APPT, etc.), the EPT and the WPT have been the big draws for many poker players from around the world. It leads many to ask which is the better tournament schedule and, in this writer’s opinion, ask the more serious question as to whether or not the EPT has passed the WPT in popularity.

Location, Location, Location

When the World Poker Tour started back in 2002, it featured tournaments around the world and took viewers and players to locales that many would probably never venture. Las Vegas, Costa Rica, Aruba, the islands of the Caribbean, the Bahamas and Paris, France were just some of the opulent stops that the tour made in its early history and the playing sites were featured almost as much as the players were at the tables. As the WPT has moved into its seventh season, though, these grandiose destinations have dropped away from the schedule.

Aruba was dropped when the WPT started their own poker room and Ultimate Bet, as the sponsor of the Aruba event, didn’t figure into the mix. Same was also true for the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure and the PartyPoker Millions. The yearly stop at the chic Aviation Club in Paris was derailed by the online gaming laws of France and the creeping schedule of the WSOP. Other locations such as Spain (while part of the Season Seven schedule, it was not taped for broadcast in the U. S.) and the Turks and Caicos were simply dropped due to lack of turnout.

As the seventh season of the WPT is playing, here is a list of the locations where they currently have stops: Las Vegas (four times), Los Angeles, Atlantic City and Connecticut (twice) and once each in Canada, Biloxi, MS and San Jose, CA. The WPT doesn’t reach off of the North American continent anymore, a distinct change from their early days.

The EPT started with seven tournaments and has been steadily expanding their reach on European soil. This year’s schedule has 11 tournaments and features such exotic ports of call such as Barcelona, London, Budapest, Copenhagen and San Remo. It all wraps up in 2009 with their traditional Grand Final, played in potentially the swankiest of all locations, Monte Carlo.

When faced with a decision, what tour sounds more desirable to the top professionals and amateurs who happen to make it there?

The Numbers Don’t Lie

From its start in 2002 and through most of its fifth season in 2006, the WPT showed astronomically strong growth in its field sizes. Since the introduction of the Unlawful Internet Gaming Enforcement Act (UIGEA) in mid-2006, though, the numbers coming to the tables for the $10,000 WPT championship events have dropped off. While the allure of winning a WPT title is still strong, there are several reasons that this has occurred.

The UIGEA effectively cut off many online rooms from sending their players to the tournaments. Whereas pre-UIGEA the rooms could put the players in the particular WPT satellites that they had won directly, now they were barred from doing so. When a player wins one of the online satellites now, he is gifted with the buy in, airfare and hotel accommodations as a chunk of money in their online account with the hope that he/she will use it for that purpose. When faced with two possibilities for spending upwards of possibly $20,000 – entering a tournament that may return you nothing or taking the money and running – It could be argued that many kept the money in their pocket (this has been seen at the WSOP Championship Event as well).

Add into this scenario the downturn in the economy over the past two years, where even the gaming haven of Las Vegas is having a tough time, and it shows why the smaller fields in WPT events have been happening.

On the other side, the EPT has seen each year of their stable of events grow consistently and has kept their buy-ins surprisingly low (when you look at the conversion rates). With the smaller poker rooms that are present in Europe, the EPT couldn’t, in its early years, draw as well as the WPT. Now, with its burgeoning popularity, the EPT routinely sets a cap on their tournaments and then passes it by allowing stand by players to enter the events after they have started. Each stop on this year’s EPT schedule has seen this happen.

There are several advantages that the EPT has in this area over the WPT. Because their primary sponsor is PokerStars, there is a constant stream of online players who win their way into tournaments and can be entered in by the sponsor. Without being hamstrung by the legalities that hamper the U. S., you could conceivably have a field that is entirely made up of online qualifiers. The minimum gaming age of eighteen also allows online wunderkind who have learned the game on the internet to step to the tables opposite their idols and exposes them to the poker world at least a couple years before they could legally step into a North American casino (Annette Obrestad comes to mind here).

The power of European currency also has a huge effect. With the Euro and other continental denominations stacking up well against the American dollar, it makes more sense for those professionals who ply their trade to stay home and potentially rake in a significant win, rather than spend a sizeable chunk of their bankroll for potentially nothing. If you could go to a tournament that pays the champion a $1 million-plus payday outside your back door versus heading across the pond for that same chance, which option would you take?

So Who Gets The Nod?

While the World Series of Poker in Las Vegas, and its marathon two month (or potentially longer now, with the final table move to November this year) schedule, will always be the marquee event in poker, the European Poker Tour and the World Poker Tour seem to be battling for the same territory. It is possible that both could continue to be highly successful on their own frontiers of North America and Europe (and a little aside here - wouldn’t it be great to see a EPT Champions versus WPT Champions “Poker Superstars International” made-for-television event?), but poker players only have so much time, health and, most importantly, bankroll to be able to expend. So which one is the better tournament schedule now as they continue to drive further into the poker landscape? It is only a question that can be answered as their respective tours motor along. (Credit: Poker News Daily)

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PokerStars Launches New Tour Down Under - 8th January 2009

PokerStars announced the launch Wednesday of a new poker tour to be played across Australia and New Zealand in 2009.

The Australia and New Zealand Poker Tour, or ANZPT, is scheduled to begin on February 4 at Adelaide's SKY City Casino, the casino that originally introduced Texas Hold 'em to Australia way back in 1987.

The league format for the tour means players will be awarded points based on how many events they enter and the position they finish in.

Some of the biggest names in Australian poker will compete in the tournament, including Eric Assadourian, Tony Hachem, Grant Levy, Celina Lin and Emad Tahtouh.

"Following the success of the second season of the APPT earlier this year, we are excited to be expanding poker further throughout the region," said ANZPT spokesperson Danny McDonagh. "The ANZPT will provide Australian and New Zealand poker players with a professionally-executed tour in their own backyard."

Qualifying begins online at PokerStars.net on January 1. The first ANZPT season will run until June 2009.

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Rory Rees Brennan Crowned Irish Poker Championship Winner, by Dan Cypra - Poker News Daily - 7th January 2009

There were 255 players in the 2009 PartyPoker Irish Poker Championship, which was held recently at the Radisson SAS Hotel in Galway. At the end of the day, Dublin native Rory Rees Brennan collected €160,000 for winning the tournament, which boasted a €2,000 buy-in. The 23 year-old is good friends with Poker Million runner up Eoghan O’Dea.

In a press release distributed by parent company Party Gaming, Brennan commented, “It’s unbelievable to take down this tournament. I went to the final table as chip leader, but at times I thought I was down and out. I am proud of how I played and, in particular, how I changed gears at key times.” The tournament paid out to the top 26 finishers and attracted such notable names as Poker News Daily columnist and World Poker Tour Host Mike Sexton, Boyle Poker pro Marty Smyth, “Cowboy” Kenna James, and its 2008 winner, Jude Ainsworth.

The money bubble burst at the very end of Day 2, meaning that everyone who returned for the third day of play would take home a little extra cash. David Curtis and Derek Murray represented the hometown crowd of Galway at the final table and pacing the field was chip leader Ben Vinson. At the end of the day, Chris Dowling committed all of his chips with 6-9 offsuit and found himself dominated by Brennan’s A-10. Although a nine came off on the flop, Brennan spiked an ace on the turn, sealing the victory for the young gun. Here were the top ten finishers in the PartyPoker Irish Poker Championship along with their payouts:

1st Place: Rory Rees Brennan, €160,000
2nd Place: Chris Dowling, €90,000
3rd Place: Ben Vinson, €55,000
4th Place: David Poole, €30,000
5th Place: David Curtis, €20,000
6th Place: Krzysztof Gwvszko, €15,000
7th Place: Peter Murphy, €12,500
8th Place: Derek Murray, €10,000
9th Place: Rory Liffey, €8,000
10th Place: Rory Brown, €7,000

In addition to the Main Event, a €750 buy-in side tournament was also held. Its final table included David “Devilfish” Ulliott, Surinder Sunar, and Ainsworth. When the smoke cleared in this highly publicized “bust out” event, Ulliott ran away with the field and pocketed €33,000. In a press release distributed by Devilfish Gaming, which operates Devilfish Poker, Ulliott stated, “I got a lot of chips early in the tournament, which meant players were moving in with all sorts of marginal hands. I got lucky once against Paul Jackson with A-J against his queens and when I got heads-up against Surindar Sunar, I don’t think he won a hand.” One of the original “Bad Boys of Poker,” Ulliott won a $2,000 buy-in Pot Limit Hold’em tournament during the 1997 World Series of Poker. Sunar recently took down a Pot Limit Omaha event at the Master Classics of Poker in Amsterdam.

Also held as part of the festivities was the Poker for the Homeless charity tournament. The event raised €40,000 for the Capuchin Day Center. For the second year, a player from Waterford took down the title. This time around, it was Nicky Power. Last year, Noel Furlong emerged victorious in the event, which gave €100 of its €330 buy-in directly to the charity. Irish poker pro Padraig Parkinson, who was one of the main faces behind the benefit, said after the event, “We’d like to thank everyone who played and all of the companies who contributed financially to the success of the event. Without them, it wouldn’t exist and we’re deeply grateful.”

The Irish Poker Championship Tour traveled to numerous casinos between August and December, including the Red Cow Hotel in Dublin and Park Hotel in Kiltimagh. Perched atop its leader board when the season concluded was Jaye Renehan, who grabbed €11,400 in total winnings.

One day after busting out of the Main Event, Sexton told tournament officials about the atmosphere in the European country: “When you come to Ireland to play these poker tournaments, it’s as much about the social aspects as it is the poker. You spend a lot of time in the pub and it’s a lot of fun.” (Credit: Poker News Daily)

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Thursday, January 08, 2009

The countdown is over... the 2009 Aussie Millions is here - 8th January 2009

The 2009 Aussie Millions is finally here, starting tomorrow with Day One of the $1,100 No Limit Holdem Opening Event.

With 18 official events to choose from, you’re bound to find something that floats your boat.

Don’t forget you can still win your seat in the $10,500 Main Event with satellites running daily until Monday 19 January 2009. Check out the Win Your Seat section of the Aussie Millions website for more details.

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Rory Rees Brennan Wins 2009 PartyPoker.com IPC - All Power To Poker For The Homeless

**Coverage from PartyPoker.com Premier League III started last night on Channel 4 in the UK. The next episode airs Tuesday 13th January/Wednesday 14th January at 12.45am on Channel 4 in the UK. Phil Hellmuth, Tom ‘Durrrr’ Dwan, Tony G, Vicky Coren, Nenad Medic and Juha Helppi take to the table. Dave ‘Devilfish’ Ulliott joins Jesse May in the commentary box. Check out the great trailer at: http://www.matchroompoker.com/promo3.php


RORY REES BRENNAN IS THE 2009 PARTYPOKER.COM IPC WINNER!

HOT PROSPECT SCOOPS €160,000 IN FIRST MAJOR TOURNAMENT OF 2009

ALL POWER TO POKER FOR THE HOMELESS


7th January 2009 - 23-year-old Dubliner Rory Rees Brennan celebrated late into the night after scooping €160,000 and the title at the first major poker tournament of 2009, the €2,000 buy-in (9% withheld) PartyPoker.com Irish Poker Championship http://www.partypokeripc.com. The Pokerevents.ie organized event took place at the Radisson SAS Hotel in Galway between the 2 - 4 January and attracted 255 runners.

Brennan has been a professional poker player since he left University College Dublin in 2006 after completing a course in commerce. He has been widely tipped for great things by the Irish poker community and is best friends with Eoghan O'Dea, who has also recently exploded on to the live circuit with his recent runner-up finish in the Poker Million. Brennan has already had great success online and is a member of PartyPoker.com's new Palladium Lounge for top players. http://www.palladiumlounge.com

"It's unbelievable to take down this tournament," said Brennan. "I went on to the final table as chip leader but at times I thought i was down and out. I am proud of how I played and, in particular, how I changed gears at key times"

Brennan now plans to use his big windfall as a bankroll for more tournaments with the Aussie Millions and the Asian Poker Tour Philippines in his sights. He also said that the winnings would be useful for purchasing a new car and eventually starting a business.

The runner-up was 30-year-old Ballymore Eustace electrician Chris Dowling, who went home with €90,000. Late into the night Dowling was heard commenting how it would be good if the tournament concluded soon as he had to pick up his apprentice and go to work that morning! Dowling had previously cashed at small Irish festivals and plans to use his winnings to contribute towards building a new house.

The key hand came when Dowling pushed all in with 96 off-suit. Rees Brennan quickly called with A10 off-suit and his heart was in his mouth when a 9 came on the flop. The turn came an A to give the young Irish sensation victory and send his big supporting group into rapturous applause. The third place finisher was Ben Vinson from Essex in the UK, the son of poker professional Alan Vinson. Vinson jr dazzled with his creative play at the final table but eventually came unstuck. Fourth place went to Manchester’s David Poole, with local success for Galway as David Curtis finished fifth. Sixth place went to Poland’s Krystof Gwvsko, who qualified through a unique IPC satellite at the Olympic Casino in Warsaw. Seventh was Peter Murphy from South Armagh, with David Curtis from Galway in eighth. The televised table bubble boy in ninth was popular pro Rory Liffey.

The €750 side event produced an awesome final table including David ‘Devilfish’ Ulliott, Surinder Sunar, 2008 IPC champion Jude Ainsworth, Paul Jackson and Marc Goodwin. The Fish was dominant throughout and picked up first place and €33,000. Full results for the main event, side event, logs, videos and information can be found at http://www.partypokeripc.com

Plenty of top class Irish pros flocked to Galway including Marty Smyth, Ciaran O'Leary, Liam Flood, Donnacha O'Dea and Padraig Parkinson. There was also a big international contingent in attendance including 'Ambassador of Poker' Mike Sexton, Kenna James, Mad Marty Wilson, Julian Gardner and 2008 Irish Open champion Neil Channing. France was represented by Claude Cohen and Veronique Gourdon, Poland by television presenter and boxing champion Agnieszka Rylik, while Spain's charge was led by Leo Margets and PartyPoker.com Women's World Open II star May Maceiras.

Also in attendance were 16 online qualifiers who won packages for the main event on PartyPoker.com. The package was worth $5,000, including the $2,800 buy-in, $1,000 spending money and accommodation in a luxury hotel. A large contingent qualified for only $3!!!

Coverage of the main event will be televised on RTÉ from January 18th, with final table commentary provided by Jesse May and Neil Channing. The event was organized by Pokerevents.ie and the coverage provided by Winmedia Ltd. Coverage of the event will be distributed internationally later in the year.

The Poker for the Homeless (formerly Simon Poker Day) charity tournament at the PartyPoker.com Irish Poker Championship was won by Waterford man Nicky Power. It was the second year the southwest Irish city triumphed in the event with Pat Storan having lifted the honours in 2008. Power also follows in the footsteps of former world champion Noel Furlong who won the event in 2007. The €330 event, of which €100 went directly to homeless charities in Ireland, raised €18,200 for Galway Simon and once all pledges are collected is expected to reach €40,000, with Dublin Simon and Brother Kevin of the Capuchin Day Centre the beneficiaries.

Padraig Parkinson, one of the organizers of the event, added, “We’d like to thank everyone who played and all the companies who contributed financially to the success of the event. Without them it wouldn’t exist and we’re deeply grateful.”

Poker for the Homeless will return later in the year and full information about the event at the IPC can be found at http://www.partypokeripc.com

2009 PARTYPOKER.COM IPC MAIN EVENT FINAL TABLE PRIZE PAYOUT

FIRST - Rory Rees Brennan (Dublin) €160,000

SECOND – Chris Dowling (Ballymore Eustace) €90,000

THIRD – Ben Vinson (Essex, Eng) €55,000

FOURTH – David Poole (Manchester) €30,000

FIFTH – David Curtis (Galway) €20,000

SIXTH - Krystof Gwvsko (Warsaw, Poland) €15,000

SEVENTH - Peter Murphy (South Armagh) €12,500

EIGHTH – Derek Murray (Galway) €10,000


FINAL TABLE CHIP STACKS

SEAT ONE - Peter Murphy (South Armagh) 94,500

SEAT TWO - David Curtis (Galway) 146,500

SEAT THREE - Ben Vinson (Essex) 581,580

SEAT FOUR - David Poole (Manchester) 181,100

SEAT FIVE - Chris Dowling (Kildare) 147,000

SEAT SIX - Derek Murray (Galway) 183,500

SEAT SEVEN - Krystof Gwvsko (Warsaw, Poland) 304,000

SEAT EIGHT - Rory Brennan (Dublin) 1,058,000

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PKR.com launch huge game update

Press Release

7th January 2009

Not content with developing ‘the world’s most advanced poker room’ the pioneers at PKR.com have raised the bar yet again with the release of their latest game update.
With over 50 new features, tweaks, and improvements to PKR.com’s market leading poker software, ‘Version 1.7’ is the site’s biggest update ever and players are already enjoying the new offerings:

New environments
Topping the must-see list are three exciting new game environments designed to immerse players in some of the coolest poker locations ever. A Chinese themed casino gives players a taste of the orient while an Egyptian themed poker room transports players to the days when magical kingdoms ruled the Nile. To top things off an underground wine bar caters to the smooth sophistication of PKR’s hip, young card sharks.

Even more realistic
Players will also enjoy even more enhanced gameplay. Tournaments will now end with an eye-popping celebration sequence and PKR’s team of crack developers have also added slick new physics modelling that makes hair move realistically when players perform emotes. Christmas costumes were also added to the mix to cater for the festive seasons.

Better games
Of course PKR has always been more than just a pretty face and the site is always improving the games it offers players. The addition of re-buy tournaments is bound to spice up MTT action with even more excitement and bigger guaranteed prizes.
PKR COO Leon Walters said, “This is our biggest update yet and our development team are really proud and excited about what we’ve been able to accomplish – we think the improvements and enhancements to the game are going to be a massive hit”.

And more...
PKR have also responded to player feedback by reducing the load time of the game even further and introducing a wider range of payment options. Players can now top up their PKR account (and cash out their winnings) with the paysafecard and ClickandBuy. And, with the addition of PKR.ru, Russian has been added to the list of 12 languages that PKR offer customers.

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Dwan's Challenge, Accepted!

Three well-known poker players, including Phil Ivey, accept the challenge

January 7, 2009 -- U.K. Poker News is reporting that three "of the most intimidating names in live and online poker" have accepted Thomas 'Durrr' Dwan's recent, well-publicized "3-to-1" challenge

"I'm making this heads-up challenge to the world," Dwan told Bluff Magazine last week. "Anyone can accept. Four tables, minimum of $200/$400, and I’ll put up $1.5 million to their $500,000. We play 50,000 hands minimum and if they end up a dollar after rake they keep the side money or whatever. So basically, if you and I played and you won a dollar, you would get my $1.5 million and if I won a dollar I would win your $500,000. So I'm giving a million dollars free if anyone thinks they can do it."

And the three top-tier players who have accepted the challenge? David Benyamine, Phil Ivey, and Patrik Antonius.

Receiving the most attention of these three is Phil Ivey. Ivey, who announced that he would accept Dwan's challenge yesterday, admitted that he may be in for a run for his money.

"You know what, the funny thing is he probably does have an edge," PokerListings quoted Ivey as saying. "But you know, like, I don't know, it's just something tempting about that million and a half to that $500,000."

The PokerListings article continues: "He admits durrrr will initially have the edge as he adjusts to playing four tables at once, but he's counting on durrrr not realizing how many hands 50,000 hands really is. He'll have time to catch up, and it's likely someone will go broke in this challenge." (Credit: CAP)

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PartyGaming Files Lawsuit - iGaming Business - 7th January 2009

Leading online gaming operator PartyGaming, the firm behind popular online poker domain PartyPoker.com, has filed a lawsuit against Livermore Investments Group Limited.

The action was filed in London on December 23 according to a report from news service Bloomberg.com and surrounds PartyGaming’s 2006 takeover of Livermore’s Internet gambling business at Empire Online.

According to Bloomberg.com, Gibraltar-based PartyGaming alleges that Livermore ‘failed to deliver a certain amount of income under an acquisition made three years ago’.

British Virgin Islands-registered Livermore previously operated as the online gaming firm Empire Online until PartyGaming purchased its gambling business for $38 million. Livermore is run by Chief Executive Officer Noam Lanir and changed its name following the sale before beginning operations as an investment business.

According to John Shepherd, spokesperson for PartyGaming, the value of the claim is ‘six figures’ but he declined to give additional details.

PartyGaming was also in the news late last month after its largest shareholder, India-born Anurag Dikshit, pled guilty to in a New York court to violating sections of the 1961 Wire Act. Thirty-seven-year-old Dikshit helped start PartyGaming in 1997 by creating its software platform and agreed to pay $300 million in fines and assist authorities with their investigations while awaiting sentencing in two years. (Credit: iGaming Business)

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Wednesday, January 07, 2009

Party Gaming CEO Discusses Future of Online Poker, by Earl Burton - Poker News Daily - 6th January 2009

The recent news in December of Party Gaming co-founder Anurag Dikshit’s plea bargain with the U.S. Department of Justice thrust the company back into the spotlight. Now, in a December 28th interview with Financial Times, new Chief Executive Officer Jim Ryan has announced his plans for returning the company to the lofty perch it once held.

The article, written by Roger Blitz, points out that it has been a very difficult couple of years for the one-time monolith in the online poker world. After its initial public offering (IPO) on the London Stock Exchange in 2005, Party Gaming was valued at almost £5 billion. Since the departure of U.S. players due to the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) in 2006 and the subsequent decision by then-CEO Mitch Garber to withdraw from the market, Party Gaming’s value has fallen to under £1 billion. However, as Blitz states, there could be “a light at the end of what has been a long, dark tunnel” for Party Gaming.

The light that Blitz refers to is the mid-December decision by Dikshit to succumb to Department of Justice pressures and plead guilty to violations of the Wire Act of 1961. In submitting his guilty plea, Dikshit paid a $300 million fine and could face a two year jail term, although sentencing will not occur until 2010. He continues to assist the United States Government in its investigations into online gaming.

In the article, Ryan - who took over for Gerber in June of 2008 - states that Party Gaming is currently in discussions with the U.S. Department of Justice regarding the company’s liabilities, but wouldn’t go into great detail. The article did discuss that the shares of Party Gaming on the London Exchange have grown to 200 pence each and that a deal with the U.S. government is looming sometime this month.

When asked about the future of the company, Ryan was upbeat about Party Gaming’s abilities in not only online poker, but also in a realm of online gaming options. “This is a marathon, not a sprint,” Ryan is quoted as saying in the Financial Times article by Blitz. “We have been chasing quarterly profits, but the market has become so competitive, you’ve got to know where you’re going. We’re not so much slowing down, but keeping ourselves focused.”

The three year plan that Ryan has set for Party Gaming is something that he believes that other online gaming companies want to do, but his company already does. The Financial Times quotes Ryan as saying that the company, since its exodus from the U.S. market, has built a complete gaming operation that is focused on all aspects of the online world, including poker, casino, sports betting, bingo, and backgammon. “[We offer] different products with one back office platform,” he explains in Blitz’s article. “One deposit, one account – it’s a one stop shop. That is still the main strategic objective for a number of our competitors and we have it already.”

Ryan also states that he sees a day when the online gaming world will be vastly different than what is out there today. While poker remains the focus of Party Gaming, Ryan sees over the next three years that there will only be five online poker operators of any consequence. Party Gaming at this time ranks fourth in that equation - something that “hurts,” according to Ryan - but his quote in the Financial Times piece looms large: “We need to retake the hill and position ourselves to be that leader again.” (Credit: Poker News Daily)

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Tuesday, January 06, 2009

PartyGaming Plans For The Future - iGaming Business - 5th January 2009

The Chief Executive Officer for embattled online gaming operator PartyGaming, Jim Ryan, gave an interview over the Christmas period to The Financial Times newspaper and revealed his plans for the future.

Canada-born Ryan took over the helm for PartyGaming in May from countryman Mitch Garber. He is a highly experienced Internet and technology executive with 22 years of experience including serving as Chief Executive Officer for St Minver Limited. He revealed that he was sticking to a three-year plan that has been designed to see PartyGaming return to its former dominant position in the world of online poker.

“This is a marathon, not a sprint,” said Ryan.

“We have been chasing quarterly profits but the market has become so competitive you’ve got to know where you’re going. We’re not so much slowing down but keeping ourselves focused.”

The 46-year-old stated that he does not know whether online gambling will become legal in the US under new President Barack Obama but that he would ‘prepare the company for that day’.

“Our job, frankly speaking, is to take share back”, said Ryan.

“It may cost us more.”

Ryan stated that there will only be five online poker operators of any consequence in next three years and that PartyGaming would be one of them.

“That being said, our job is to acquire more casino players, more sports betting players,” he stated.

“We need to have less focus on cross-selling, more on acquiring players.”

He also talked up the operator’s completely integrated platform that offers poker, casino, sportsbetting, bingo, backgammon and party markets from one site.

“We offer six different products with one back office platform,” said Ryan.

“One deposit, one account. It’s a one-stop shop. That is still the main strategic objective for a number of our competitors. We have it already.”

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World Poker Tour Debuts on Fox Sports Net, by Dan Cypra - Poker News Daily - 5th January 2009

On Sunday night, the seventh season of the World Poker Tour (WPT) kicked off. Part one of Bellagio Cup IV aired, which featured a final table that included Mike Watson, David Benyamine, Luke Staudenmaier, Ralph Perry, John Phan, and Gabriel Thaler. It was the first WPT tournament to be sponsored by FullTiltPoker.net, which received a sizable amount of exposure throughout the one hour episode on Fox Sports Net.

The first of 26 installments hit the airwaves on Sunday night. The Bellagio Cup IV was actually the second WPT tournament of Season VII. In May, a non-televised Spanish Championship took place in Barcelona. The Bellagio Cup IV took place in July, just after the start of the 2008 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event. For Season VII, the WPT inked a sponsorship agreement with FullTiltPoker.net. As such, the educational gaming site received an ample amount of publicity throughout the show, including in its opening.

Each of the on-screen displays of chip counts featured a FullTiltPoker.net logo, as did the graphic that appears when players peek at their cards. One of the most noticeable changes included the felt in the center of the table, which contained a digitally-produced FullTiltPoker.net logo. This were added in during post-production of the episodes, as Full Tilt did not sign on as a presenting sponsor until November, four months after the tournament was filmed.

Two other companies also received a considerable amount of exposure. Southwest Airlines, one of the major carriers in the United States, is also a sponsor of the seventh season of the WPT. As such, it received prominent placement, including a voiceover by WPT Co-Host Vince Van Patten, who claimed, “Tonight’s broadcast sponsored in part by Southwest Airlines.” The WPT also featured its ClubWPT MySpace page in signage on the Bellagio Cup IV set. The advertisements directed viewers to view the subscription-based online poker room’s MySpace page, located at myspace.com/worldpokertour.

On the inside walls of the tables were logos for the WPT Boot Camp, a roving educational seminar on cash games and tournaments that features such brand name pros as Kenna James, Poker News Daily Columnist Linda Johnson, T.J. Cloutier, Tom McEvoy, and Jan Fisher. The next ring game Boot Camp is scheduled for January 17th and 18th at the Hollywood Park Casino in Inglewood, California.

In addition to its MySpace presence, ClubWPT also received a multitude of advertising spots. The commercials noted that players competed for over $100,000 in monthly prizes and that membership is $19.95 per month. ClubWPT is open to customers of the United States due to its subscription status. It is one of the last subscription sites standing, as two of its competitors, Zosoz and Fleet Street Games, closed their doors near the end of the 2008 calendar year.

The presence of WPT Live Updates hostess Amanda Leatherman is also a noticeable difference. During Sunday’s episode, she appeared on screen interviewing Erica Schoenberg, the fiancée of tournament competitor David Benyamine. The Frenchman won his first WSOP bracelet in the $10,000 buy-in World Championship of Omaha Hi-Low Split Eight or Better for $535,000 in June.

Phan is fresh off being named Bluff Magazine’s 2008 Player of the Year. He donned both of his WSOP bracelets on set for the Bellagio Cup IV. Along with Benyamine, he gave Full Tilt even more exposure, as both were wearing the online poker room’s gear. Benyamine and Watson entered the final table as the two chip leaders; the two would eventually finish first and second, respectively.

Because of the episode being an hour long, only two eliminations (Phan and Thaler) were shown. The end of the show featured a preview for next week, which consisted of each of the four remaining players moving all in and Van Patten reacting strongly to the result of a hand. The WPT is slated to launch a Channel Finder in the near future in order to assist fans with finding its programming. (Credit: Poker News Daily)

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WSOP Europe to Air on February 1st, by Dan Cypra - Poker News Daily - 5th January 2009

Move over, Super Bowl. There’s a new sheriff in town. On Sunday, February 1st, the first four of episodes of the World Series of Poker (WSOP) Europe Main Event will air on ESPN at 6:00pm ET; there will be eight episodes in total. The Super Bowl, which is one of the world’s most watched sporting events, kicks off at 6:30pm ET.

At 10:00pm ET on February 1st, an encore presentation of the first two episodes will air on ESPN2 for those who were watching “The Big Game.” The WSOP Europe festivities consisted of four separate tournaments, culminating in a £10,350 buy-in event that drew 362 players. At the end of the day, Full Tilt Poker pro John Juanda became just the second WSOP Europe Main Event champion ever, joining Annette “Annette_15” Obrestad, who won the prestigious title in 2007.

ESPN Senior Director of Communications, George McNeilly, told Poker News Daily, “An opportunity presented itself to air the WSOP-Europe in prime time on ESPN. We always strive to serve the widest variety of sports fans and we hope poker fans tune in for the prime time episodes.”

The WSOP Europe tournaments were held at the Casino at the Empire in London’s Leicester Square. The epicenter of the city’s theater district, Leicester Square also houses several casinos. Doug White, ESPN’s Senior Director of Programming and Acquisitions, commented in a press release that the atmosphere of this event is vastly different than the one filmed at the Rio in Las Vegas: “The intimate look and feel of this tournament is different from other WSOP events we produced in the United States.” The press release explains that players at the Casino at the Empire were seated “in a side room, under the stairs, behind the bar, near the roulette tables, and in front of an ice cream shop.”

ESPN is also employing a mobile hole card camera in order to be able to show what players hold in key hands no matter where they are seated. In the past, ESPN has used the Henry Orenstein invention only for its feature table as well as “Table 2.” Jamie Horowitz, ESPN’s Senior Sports Producer, explained the importance of this addition for WSOP Europe’s coverage: “We believe the Mobile Hole Card Camera will provide fans a great understanding of the overall story behind the tournament, and how the players advanced to the final table.”

Super Bowl XLIII will be held in Tampa, Florida on February 1st. The game pits the top team from the National Football Conference (NFC) against the top team from the American Football Conference (AFC). The game kicks off at 6:30pm ET and will go head to head with ESPN’s WSOP Europe coverage. The Super Bowl is viewed in dozens of countries around the world and advertising spots regularly come with a seven-figure price tag. The NFL playoffs will enter their Divisional round this weekend, with the Tennessee Titans, Pittsburgh Steelers, Baltimore Ravens, and San Diego Chargers remaining in the hunt for the AFC. In the NFC, the defending champion New York Giants, Carolina Panthers, Arizona Cardinals, and Philadelphia Eagles are still in contention.

The schedule for the WSOP Europe on ESPN2 is as follows:

Sunday, February 1st
10:00pm: Episode #1
11:00pm: Episode #2

Sunday, February 8th
10:00pm: Episode #3
11:00pm: Episode #4

Sunday, February 15th
10:00pm: Episode #5
11:00pm: Episode #6

Sunday, March 1st
10:00pm: Episode #7
11:00pm: Episode #8

The WSOP Europe Main Event attracted all of the heavy hitters in the poker world. The final table featured WSOP November Nine member Ivan Demidov, who became the first person ever to reach the final tables of both the WSOP and WSOP Europe Main Events in the same year; Demidov finished third in London and second in Las Vegas for well over $6 million total. Also seated at the WSOP Europe Main Event final table are Daniel Negreanu and Scott Fischman. Lon McEachern and Norman Chad will provide commentary for the event.

The schedule for the 2009 WSOP has not yet been released. (Credit: Poker News Daily)

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Pamela Anderson May Play in Aussie Millions, by Brett Collson - Poker News Daily - 5th January 2009

Former “Baywatch” television star Pamela Anderson is rumored to be taking another dip into the poker scene later this month. Several sources are reporting that the sex symbol will be participating in the Aussie Millions Poker Championship at the Crown Casino in Melbourne, which kicks off on January 9th and runs through the 26th.

Anderson was scheduled to make an appearance at the Aussie Millions Main Event last year, but couldn’t fit the annual tournament into her schedule. It is believed that her management is in talks with tournament organizers for the former actress to take part as a celebrity player in 2009. She’ll join some of the top poker pros on the planet in the pursuit of the AUD $2 million first place prize.

Poker has long been an interest for Anderson. In 2006, she launched PamelaPoker.com, a sister site to Doyle’s Room, but the venture was shut down after the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) was signed into law later that year. Sites that vacated the U.S. market around that time included PartyPoker and Paradise Poker.

Anderson was formerly married to film producer and poker player Rick Salomon. The marriage lasted for only for ten weeks before the couple separated; it was finally annulled just six months after the wedding. According to Anderson during an appearance on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show,” the couple began dating because Salomon promised to pay off her poker debts. Salomon is most famously known for his starring role in “One Night in Paris,” which was the first Paris Hilton Sex tape.

Along with her role as C.J. Parker on “Baywatch,” Anderson appeared in the hit television sitcom “Home Improvement” and starred in shows such as “V.I.P.” and “Stacked.” She most recently stumbled upon the giant that is reality television and became of the center of attention in her own show on the E! Network called “Pam: Girl on the Loose.”

Others believed to be making an appearance at this year’s Aussie Millions Main Event are former tennis star Mark Philippoussis and ex-rugby player Kris Smith, the husband of Australian singer Danielle Minogue. Both are supposedly looking for sponsors in the event. Past celebrities to make the trip to Crown Casino were actress-turned-poker player Shannon Elizabeth, tennis superstar Andy Roddick, and actor Michael Vartan.

The 2009 Aussie Millions Main Event will kick off on January 18th. A winner will be named six days later. Alexander Kostritsyn was crowned as last year’s champion, besting 778 players for a first place prize of $1.4 million. Kostritsyn beat Full Tilt Poker pro Erik Seidel after two hours of heads-up play. Other past winners of the Main Event include Gus Hansen (2007), Team PokerStars Pro Lee Nelson (2006), and Tony Bloom (2004). (Credit: Poker News Daily)

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Monday, January 05, 2009

Rory Rees Brennan wins the 2009 Irish Poker Championship

The IPC was the first major Poker Tournament on the hectic 2009 calendar and the recent doom and gloom in the news did nothing to stop 255 people entering the €2000 buyin Main Event which was held in the Radisson Hotel in Galway which generated a total prizepool of €464,000 and a top prize of €160,000 – a nice New Years bonus for one lucky person.

It was a star-studded event with big names such as Mike Sexton, Kenna James, Marty Smyth and of course last years winner, Jude Ainsworth who was determined to defend his title and start 2009 on a high!

131 players failed to survive Day 1, meaning 124 players returned on Day 2, one step closer to the money. David Poole emerged as the runaway chipleader during the day, but it was the young Englishman, Ben Vinson, who was to emerge as the chipleader going into the third and final day with Chris Dowling within arms reach of him.

26 players were to make the money and it was 26 who returned on Day 3. The shortstacked players were quick to fall by the wayside and others, like the ever-determined Rory Brown, just couldn’t catch a break and often fell at the hands of the extremely active Ben Vinson who seemingly could do no wrong. Once we reached the final table however, the momentum looked set to change.

The final table consisted of an interesting bunch. Peter Murphy continued his recent good form in what was to be another final table for him. Derek Murray and David Curtis were the local Galway representation while Krzysztof Gwvszko was the sole Pole remaining in the event. The well known Rory Liffey found himself sat beside his namesake, Rory Brennan while David Poole and Chris Dowling had no intention of sitting back and letting themselves blind out! Chipleader Ben Vinson intended on continuing the dominance he had enjoyed since the beginning of the day.

It wasn’t to be Ben Vinson’s name engraved on the crystal trophy, however, after he was eliminated in 3rd place for €55,000. So it was left to Rory Rees Brennan and Chris Dowling to go head to head in an epic two and a half hour battle for the top prize of €160,000. Both players made few mistakes, but Rory finally forced Chris into making a small error when he went all-in with nine-six off-suit. Rory showed Ace-Ten and despite getting help in the form of a nine, Rory hit an ace to bury Chris and be crowned the 2009 IPC Champion, taking home the massive first prize of €160,000.

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John Phan Wins 2008 Bluff Player of the Year Award, by Dan Cypra - Poker News Daily - 4th January 2009

John Phan, affectionately named “The Razor” in the world of poker, was recently named Bluff Magazine’s 2008 Player of the Year, with $2.1 million in earnings translating into 1,214.1 points according to its rating system. He edged out Michael Binger, who hauled in $1.1 million for 1,183.7 points.

Phan started the year off in March by making the final table and finishing sixth in the World Poker Tour’s (WPT) Bay 101 Shooting Star event for $135,000. That tournament, which was won by Brandon Cantu, featured a final table that also included Steve Sung and Jennifer Harman. Then, it was on to the 2008 World Series of Poker, where Phan took down not one, but two bracelets, the coveted hardware awarded to the winner of each tournament. Phan conquered a field of 716 players in a $3,000 buy-in No Limit Hold’em event, defeating John Neckar heads-up. Full Tilt Poker pro David Singer also reached that tournament’s final table.

One bracelet wasn’t enough for one of the most feared poker players in the world, however. Phan bested a field of 238 players en route to a win in a $2,500 buy-in 2-7 Triple Draw tournament (Event #40) for $151,911. The top six finishers in that event included poker author David Sklansky and Michael “The Grinder” Mizrachi’s brother, Robert. Also held in Las Vegas was the WPT’s Bellagio Cup IV, which occurred about two weeks after Phan’s second bracelet win. The $15,000 buy-in televised WPT event was ultimately won by Mike Watson. However, Phan once again found himself in the spotlight, taking fifth for $193,915; Watson won $1.6 million.

The highlight of the 2008 calendar year for the California native came in August, when Phan was crowned the winner of the WPT’s Legends of Poker. Truly a legend in his own right after his 2008 performance, he raked in $1.1 million for his efforts. The 373 player field saw Phan go toe to toe with online poker sensation Amit “amak316” Makhija, who took second in the Legends of Poker for over a half-million dollars.

Points are the ultimate determinant of Bluff’s Player of the Year standings. Last year, Bill Edler took first place with 707.57. This year, Phan trumped that total, capturing 1,214.1 points. David “The Dragon” Pham, J.C. Tran, Jonathan “FieryJustice” Little, and Ted Lawson rounded out the top five on the leader board in 2007. This year, the top ten players in the standings were as follows:

1st Place: John “The Razor” Phan, 1,214.08 points
2nd Place: Michael Binger, 1,183.67 points
3rd Place: David “The Dragon” Pham, 1,148.05 points
4th Place: Bertrand “Elky” Grospellier, 1,114.32 points
5th Place: Men “The Master” Nguyen, 1,090.31 points
6th Place: Toto Leonidas, 1,087.13 points
7th Place: Nam Le, 940.03 points
8th Place: David Benyamine, 905.07 points
9th Place: Shannon Shorr, 882.44 points
10th Place: Jason Mercier, 877.10 points

Other notable names who found themselves perched near the top of Bluff Magazine’s Player of the Year standings were:

11th Place: Erik Seidel, 844.30 points
12th Place: John Juanda, 822.18 points
18th Place: Hevad Khan, 741.33 points
22nd Place: David “Chino” Rheem, 729.93 points
24th Place: Peter Eastgate, 722.45 points
29th Place: Ivan Demidov, 694.50 points
30th Place: Mike Matusow, 665.15 points

Points are awarded based on a player’s finish, the amount of the tournament’s buy-in, and the number of entrants. Short-handed, shootout, and heads-up tournaments are treated differently than standard events. In addition, each variation of poker features a different point structure.

One of the world’s largest poker print periodicals, Bluff is based in Atlanta, Georgia and managed by Eric Morris. Eddy Kleid, Jeff Markley, and Michael Casselli all play a prominent role in the organization. (Credit: Poker News Daily)

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Using distractions as advantages, by Steve Rosenbloom - Los Angeles Times - 4th January 2009

If you're playing in a typical no-limit hold 'em tournament at your local casino, you don't have to worry about such things as cameras and boom mikes crowding the table.

But if you play in the World Series of Poker, those things can become a factor, and wily pros such as Kirk Morrison will try to exploit them.

In this hand from the 2008 WSOP $10,000-buy-in main event at Las Vegas' Rio Hotel, with blinds at $50-$100, Morrison found K-10 suited on the button. The player in Seat 7, who had beaten Morrison in several earlier hands, open-raised to $350. The cutoff called, as did Morrison.

"I'd call with anything in position," said Morrison, owner of one WSOP bracelet. "I'd call with deuce-6 offsuit in position in this tournament."

The flop came Q-8-7, two hearts, giving Morrison the second-nut flush draw. Seat 7 bet out $650, the cutoff folded, and Morrison called.

"I thought he was strong," Morrison said. "At that point, I thought he had kings, even though I had the king of hearts."

The turn came the 9 of spades, giving Morrison an open-ended straight draw to the jack or the 6 to go with his flush draw. His opponent bet out $1,200.

"That was a scary board," said Morrison, who won more than $2 million when he finished second in the World Poker Tour Championship in 2007. "When he put out $1,200, I thought there was a good chance he might've flopped a set of queens or a set of 8s."

Morrison called. The river came the 4 of hearts, completing Morrison's flush. Seat 7 checked.

Morrison immediately said, "That's me," and he threw out a $5,000 chip.

"With this gentleman, if I take my time, he was capable of laying it down," Morrison said. "So I had to throw it in quickly and look like I was steaming. If I slow down, I don't think I'm going to get a call.

"Plus, there was a boom mike hanging over the top, the cameras were there, and people don't want to be bluffed. I tried to take advantage of all those nuances that don't get written about in books."

The player in Seat 7 said, "I don't think I can lay this hand down." He didn't. He called, then mucked his hand when he saw Morrison's flush.

"You have to decipher different people's mentality," Morrison said. "That kind of thing wouldn't have worked against 70 percent of the field. I wouldn't have gotten a call. He was the kind of guy who, when you have the cameras in there, he wouldn't want to have it shown that he was bluffed. With his personality, if I slow it down, it gives him more time to think. He probably would've made the correct laydown."

Table Talk

Second-nut flush draw: Holding the second-highest card of a suit that would complete a flush. (Credit: Los Angeles Times)

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Stars Set To Play Poker For A Good Cause - Entertainment Tonight - 29th December 2008

A group of celebrities are getting their poker faces ready to compete in a star-studded game for charity.

Brad Garrett, Adam Baldwin, Daniel Baldwin, Judd Nelson, Chris McDonald and others will play in a celeb poker tournament that will benefit the Therapeutic Living Centers For The Blind (TLC) located in Reseda, Calif. The tournament will also benefit the TLC's new children's center.

The competition will take place at Commerce Casino in Commerce, Calif., on January 17. The grand prize for the event includes a seat at the World Poker Tour Celebrity Invitational and $2,500 in cash. The public can buy tickets for the event here.
TLC was founded 30 years ago and provides 'round-the-clock care services for people challenged with both blindness and developmental disabilities. (Credit: Entertainment Tonight)

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PartyPoker.com Irish Poker Championship Underway Tonight

2nd January 2009

The focus of the poker world is on Galway in Ireland for the next few days as the first major tournament of 2009, the €2,000 buy-in (9% withheld) PartyPoker.com Irish Poker Championship http://www.partypokeripc.com, gets underway after 6pm GMT TONIGHT.

The event runs until January 4, 2009 at the Radisson SAS Hotel. Coverage of the main event will be televised on RTÉ and then distributed internationally. The event is organized by Pokerevents.ie, with the coverage produced by Winmedia Ireland Ltd. Live reporting of the event can be found at: http://www.partypokeripc.com

Irish poker is in the ascendancy after the Emerald Isle’s domination of the Poker Million and the top four who did their country so proud are all in attendance in Galway. Marty Smyth, Eoghan O’Dea, Ciaran O’Leary and Liam Flood join a fantastic line-up that also includes Donnacha O’Dea, Padraig Parkinson, Scott Gray, Ciaran O’Leary, Dave Callaghan, Roy Brindley, Tony Cascarino, Rory Liffey, John Magill and last year’s champion Jude Ainsworth.

There is also a big international contingent in Galway in search of victory and a good craic including ‘Ambassador of Poker’ Mike Sexton, Kenna James, Dave “Devilfish” Ulliott, Benjamin Kang, Surinder Sunar, Mad Marty Wilson, Julian Gardner, Sam Trickett, John Kabbaj, Michael Greco, Marc Goodwin, Paul Jackson, Mickey Wernick, Alan Vinson and 2008 Irish Open champion Neil Channing. France will be represented by Claude Cohen and Veronique Gourdon, Poland by television presenter and boxing champion Agnieszka Rylik, while Spain’s challenge is led by Leo Margets and PartyPoker.com Women’s World Open II star May Maceiras.

Another player taking part will be Meath’s Jay Renehan, who was crowned the winner of special PartyPoker.com Irish Poker Championship Tour league leaderboard. Recent EPT Barcelona runner-up and Galway casino owner Fintan Gavin finished second, with Michael Graydon third. The Tour started on the 1st August at the Eglinton Casino in Galway and concluded with its eighth stop on Saturday 13th December at the Red Cow Hotel in Dublin. For more information on the Tour and the results see: http://www.partypokeripc.com.

Also in attendance are 16 online qualifiers who won packages for the main event on PartyPoker.com. The package was worth $5,000, including the $2,800 buy-in, $1,000 spending money and accommodation in a luxury hotel. A large contingent qualified for only $3!!! Last night a lively player’s party welcomed everybody to Galway – someone forgot to tell the Irish that it was New Year’s Eve the night before!

Last year’s champion was Galway’s Jude Ainsworth, with the runner-up Mick McCool from Nottingham in the UK. In addition to the main event there are a number of good value side events taking place.

See http://www.pokerevents.ie/ipc/IPC2009/tabid/210/Default.aspx for more information.

On Sunday 4th January at 9pm there will be a special charity event ‘Poker for the Homeless,’ where a percentage from each buy-in goes to worthy charities in Dublin and Galway.

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The Australian Poker Hall of Fame - 4th January 2009

This just in from PokerNetwork.com...

After stepping down as the Big Rooster of PokerNetwork to join my ‘feather duster’ mates in the poker room I have been able to take the time to oversee our poker history and to honour poker players and administrators with the establishment of our own Australian Hall of Fame.

It is with great pleasure that, in association with Crown Casino, Bluff magazine and PokerNetwork, I announce the formation of The Australian Poker Hall of Fame. The business name has been registered and a new “Hall of Fame” tab on the PokerNetwork website will be revealed shortly.

I have accepted the Chair of a Convening Committee with representatives of the Oz Casino Industry, Bluff Magazine, players and PokerNetwork and made preparations for a launch of the Australian Poker Hall of Fame at the Crown Casino 14 January 2009 during the VIP Event of the Aussie Millions.

On behalf of all the Australian and New Zealand poker players I extend a special thanks to Crown Casino for this privilege during the Aussie Millions and for the support from Bluff and PokerNetwork. It will be an occasion to remember and a full coming of age for the grand old game of poker in Australia, coming as it does with the record breaking million dollar buy in event.

In proposing this Australian Poker Hall of Fame, I have been driven by a long time desire to honour and set in stone, those poker players, Casinos and promoters who have done so much to bring the game to the standard of excellence as it is today.

In the selection of inductees, advice has been taken from numerous poker players and supporters and Casino administrators. I have examined domestic and international results to finalise the selections for induction 2008, but in the end, for this year, the final decisions have been mine and many champions miss out. Any “culpa” which may arise from this selection belongs to “mea” alone. (Credit: PokerNetwork.com)

For the complete story visit PokerNetwork.com

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Sunday, January 04, 2009

Poker Legend Accuses Dikshit of Abandoning Industry - 4th January 2009

Anurag Dikshit, the co-founder of successful US online gambling company PartyGaming, was recently fined a staggering $300,000,000 by US courts. Now he faces a verbal attack from poker legend Doyle ‘Texas Dolly' Brunson.

Dikshit pleaded guilty to contravening the US federal wire act just a few weeks ago. He admitted to using the wires to transmit bets and wager information on interstate commerce and now also faces up to two years in jail.

Dikshit was one of the owners of Party Poker and became a multi-billionaire when Party went public,' Brunson wrote in his well-read blog. 'It looks like he would feel a sense of obligation to online poker, the industry that made him a rich man. Instead, he folded up like an accordion and pleaded guilty to breaking some kind of mystery law.

'It certainly created some ill will from the other online poker sites. I personally can't imagine what was going through his mind when he made the decision,' the respected Texan wrote. (Credit: CAP and Doyles Room)

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Winners Are Grinners - 22nd December 2008

With 555 entrants and well over 1,600 rebuys, the Free-to-Enter Mega Satellite saw three $10,500 Aussie Millions Main Event seats up for grabs.

To win a seat into the Main Event via the Free-to-Enter Mega Satellite is a players dream that became a reality for just a few. As the clock ticked past 9.30pm the bubble finally burst and the three winners (pictured L-R Declan Murphy, Shy Jachimowicz and Alf Frommer) rejoiced with hugs and hi-fives.

Later in the evening four more names were added to the Main Event entry list with the completion of the Saturday Night $550 direct entry Satellite. With 94 entrants, many of whom came through the daily satellites, four Main Event seats were awarded as well as three $1,650 Feature Event seats. The Main Event winners were Sherif Derias, Brett Daphne, Tim English and Paul Obrien.

With four more coming through from the Thursday Night Rebuy Satellite, and the whopping 25 during Aussie Millions Warm Up Week, this now brings a total of 40 Main Event Seats awarded in December, with more still to come. (Credit: Crown Poker)

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Players Announced for Weekly Poker After Dark Episodes, by Earl Burton - Poker News Daily - 3rd January 2009

NBC’s Poker After Dark has become synonymous with high-stakes cash games and six-man tournaments featuring World Poker Tour winners, World Series of Poker bracelet holders, and industry staples. The show airs as late as 2:20am Eastern Time in some markets and is currently entering its fifth season. Recently, the network station announced the line-up for the marquee poker series.

The 2009 broadcast schedule will feature new shows interspersed with “encore” broadcasts of popular episodes from previous seasons. Three of those “encore” broadcasts will make up much of the January schedule. This upcoming week (January 5th) will include only new material, called “Speak Your Mind” in an apparent reference to the players’ verbosity or previous commentary experience. The episode will feature professionals Phil Hellmuth, Phil Gordon, and “High Stakes Poker” announcer Gabe Kaplan heading to battle on the felt.

The rest of January will be replete with “encore” shows, featuring amateur player Paul Featherstone’s “Dream Table” (Mike Matusow, Phil Hellmuth, Mike Sexton, Jennifer Harman, and Gavin Smith) the week of January 19th and a gathering of the veterans of the legendary Mayfair Club featuring Howard Lederer, Dan Harrington, and Steve Zolotow on January 26th.

February kicks off with another “encore” broadcast, but it is the new material which should draw the attention of many poker aficionados. The week of February 9th is “Brilliant Minds Week” and features such mathematical geniuses as Chris “Jesus” Ferguson, William Chen, and David Sklansky flexing their mental muscles on the table. The next week brings about a battle of the “Nets vs. Vets.” The show features internet gurus (CardRunners pros Taylor “Green Plastic” Caby and David “Raptor” Benefield) against the veterans of poker (Doyle Brunson and Eli Elezra).

February wraps up the week of the 23rd with what should prove to be a very contentious sit and go. Multiple World Poker Tour event winners Daniel Negreanu, Michael “The Grinder” Mizrachi, Erick Lindgren, and Gus Hansen should have plenty of fireworks to entertain viewers.

Highlights of the month of March include what could be called Poker After Dark’s version of “The Big Game.” The buy in for this round, to be broadcast the week of March 9th, has been upped to $50,000. The lineup is one poker fans won’t want to miss, with David Benyamine, Barry Greenstein, Phil Ivey, and Allen Cunningham making their appearances. Benyamine will return later in the month, during the week of March 30th, for the “International Game” against 2008 Player of the Year John Phan and 2008 WSOP runner up Ivan Demidov.

Last, but certainly not least, this year’s PAD schedule includes a special cash game and roast of Phil Hellmuth, who has certainly provided his own highlight reel of exploits on the show. Called the “Hellmuth Bash Cash Game” and airing over a two week period beginning May 4th, Hellmuth will entertain fans and opponents. The episodes feature Phil “The Unabomber” Laak, Antonio “The Magician” Esfandiari, noted cash game player Kenny Tran, and online veteran Tom “durrrr” Dwan. There will certainly be several jabs at the “Poker Brat” during this show, especially about Dwan’s outdraw against Hellmuth in the 2008 National Heads-Up Poker Championship.

As always, check your local listings for broadcast time (or if it airs, as all areas do not carry the show), but certainly be sure to check out the 2009 season of Poker After Dark on NBC. Although a bit heavy on Full Tilt Poker pros (one of the sponsors of the program), the poker should be entertaining and the chance to hear the pros banter back and forth without much commentary from the announcers is worth the price of admission. (Credit: Poker News Daily)

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Pamela to participate in 'Poker Championship'

Actress-turned poker player Pamela Anderson is reportedly keen to participate in the Aussie Millions Poker Championship at Crown this month. It is believed that the former Baywatch babe's management is in talks with event organisers for the blonde to be a celebrity player in the world-renowned tournament, reports Herald Sun.

Anderson is not the only celebrity who will be chancing their luck in the high-stakes tournament. Former tennis ace Mark Philippoussis is desperate to take a seat in the Aussie Millions Main Event, which starts on January 18. However, Philippoussis is reportedly not putting his own money, he is looking for a sponsor to buy him into the game.

Dannii Minogue's handsome other half Kris Smith, a former rugby player and occasional model, is also said to be looking for a sponsor to buy him into the tournament. The Aussie Millions Poker Championship has become one of the 'must attend' tournaments on the international professional poker circuit.

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